progressreportsummer2019

Orillia Recreation Centre

orillia.ca

255 West St. S.

Progress Report: Behind the Scenes of Construction

The Orillia Recreation Centre project continues to progress steadily, with between 60 and 80 workers on site daily. The 132, 801 sq. ft. facility is taking shape both inside and out. The once under-utilized brownfield site is being transformed into a modern, state-of-the-art facility we can all be proud of.

SUMMER 2019

The cedar paneled ceiling above the aquatic centre creates a warm and inviting space that is unique to the facility. Once the finishing touches are completed on the ceiling, the work platform that protects the pools will be removed and final details applied to the pool.

Construction Update Construction of the Orillia Recreation Centre continues to progress at full-speed with 60 to 80 workers on site daily. The building is closed in, with the exception of a few remaining windows, and the landscaping of Foundry Park is underway.

The east wall above the main entrance is the final wall to receive brick veneer, which, when complete, will give those commuting on West St. S. a feel for the final product. There is a lot of excitement and anticipation surrounding the construction of the Orillia Recreation Centre and we are pleased to provide an update on the project through this progess report.

ORILLIA RECREATION CENTRE

Fun Facts & Trivia (Answers on the back page)

How lo the foo Ben’s Ditch t Foundry Par Lightfoot Tra

1

a) 33 metres b) 21 metres c) 15 metres

Construction Work Currently Underway and/or Complete: • • • • • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • •

The cedar paneled ceiling over the pool area is 95% complete.

All windows on the north wall along the walking/jogging track are installed.

The installation of interior stud wall, rock board and stucco continues around the perimeter of the pool area and is 80% complete.

Wall tile installation is 85% complete in the pool change rooms.

Interior block walls are completely installed for all change rooms, as well as the pool deck viewing area.

Interior block construction around the perimeter of the gymnasium and the fitness rooms is complete.

Work continues with framing the ceiling and bulkheads for the upper level walking/jogging track.

Installation of piping for the therapy, leisure and lap pool is 75% complete.

The components for the moveable pool floor have arrived on site.

Drywall is installed on the stud walls in the multi-purpose rooms. Painting has started.

First of three leak tests have been completed on the leisure pool surge tank, as well as the lap pool surge tank.

Both tests passed. The therapy pool leak test will take place next.

All groundwater monitoring wells are installed.

The planting circles in the main parking lot are now backfilled with top soil and ready to receive new trees and shrubs.

Preparations are being made for the installation of the electronic entrance sign.

Tree planting has commenced in the rear of the property.

The concrete portion of the hard surfaces is installed in the rear courtyard.

Plumbing and heating installations continue on all levels.

The support structure for the pool video board is complete.

The large track that supports the moveable gymnasium divider wall is installed.

The courtyard area at the rear of the building is taking shape. This outdoor area is adjacent to the multi-purpose rooms and will feature benches, tables and landscaping to enjoy the outdoors.

Tree planting is being completed throughout the 36-acre Foundry Park site, including trees and shrubs in the parking lot and along the walkway and boulevard leading into the building.

Future Key Milestones: • • • • • • • •

The work platform that protects the pools will be removed so that finishing details can be applied to the pool.

The moveable gymnasium divider wall will be installed.

Wall and floor tiling will continue in all change rooms.

Wall and floor tiling will commence around the pool.

The final cap layer will be installed over the entire roof.

Entrance signage will be installed.

The video display/scoreboards will be installed in the gymnasium and the aquatic centre.

Final landscaping and seeding will take place.

Workers complete the finishing touches on the the windows on the north wall along the walking/jogging track. The track offers stunning views of Orillia’s beautiful downtown.

ong is otbridge over that connects rk with the ail System?

3

True or False? The Orillia Recreation Centre is an award winning project.

The eight-lane, 25-metre how hydrate can lap pool many elephants for an entire year?

2

a) 12

b) 28

How many pieces of fitness equipment will be in the Fitness Centre?

4

c) 35

Proactive Planning: No Tax Shock When Facility Opens The City has been making proactive financial plans for the opening of the Orillia Recreation Centre for several years.

Starting in 2013, Council began setting aside funds as annual reserve contributions in order to gradually phase in the operating costs of the facility over a period of years. This avoids a large single-year increase when the facility officially opens as the operating costs have already been built into the City’s budget.

Family members, Dale, Julia, and Cameron Rowe, have taken aquatics courses together to enhance their skills and work towards becoming certified lifeguards.

Dale, 44, completed her Bronze Medallion and Bronze Cross with her son Cameron, 15. She was then inspired to register for the City of Orillia’s National Lifeguard program this spring alongside her 17-year-old daughter Julia. Together, the mother-daughter duo completed all necessary certifications to become lifeguards.

Going forward, there will only be budget adjustments based on actual operations, revenue and inflationary increases.

Julia enrolled in the National Lifeguard program because of the many employment opportunities available in aquatics.

In short, Orillia residents will not see an increase to their tax bill because of the opening of the Orillia Recreation Centre.

Dale, who works at the Ontario Educational Leadership Centre following 20 years with the YMCA in recreation services, saw the lifeguard training as an opportunity to enhance her own skills and support her staff.

Becoming a Lifeguard: A Family Affair

“The lifeguarding training I received put a brand new perspective on the expectations and responsibility of lifeguards who are expected to maintain vigilance and be prepared to respond in emergency situations when overseeing aquatic programs,” said Dale.

Dale and Julia were two of 28 registrants in the spring National Lifeguard program, which certified an additional 21 lifeguards in our community.

Family members Cameron, Dale and Julia Rowe have worked together to pursue aquatic certifications to enhance their skills and open up job opportunities.

The City of Orillia is actively recruiting lifeguards and swim instructors to work at the Orillia Recreation Centre. The City needs approximately 70 certified lifeguards and swim instructors for when the facility opens.

Lifeguarding is a great job for any age and stage in life, whether you are a student looking for a part-time job, a parent looking for flexible hours, or recently retired and looking to stay active.

Those interested in aquatic career opportunities are encouraged to participate in the City’s upcoming All-in-One Aquatic Instructor Course offered this fall. Fully certify as an Aquatic Instructor in less than two months with over 50% in cost savings! You will also receive a job interview upon successful completion of the course.

The course will provide training in the following: • Bronze Medallion • Standard First Aid with CPR-C • Lifesaving Instructor • Bronze Cross • Swim Instructor If you are interested in this great opportunity, contact Jack Mair, Aquatic and Fitness Supervisor, at 705-329-7251 or email at jmair@orillia.ca.

For more information, visit orillia.ca/lifesaving.

orillia.ca

The footbridge over Ben’s Ditch that connects the paved, lit pathways of Foundry Park to the Lightfoot Trail System is now complete.

ORILLIA RECREATION CENTRE

Fun Facts & Trivia Answers

A Message from Mayor Steve Clarke The Orillia Recreation Centre project has been more than 30 years in the making and we want to thank all in the community for your patience as we are finally nearing the finish line.

The project will see a 132,801 sq. ft. state-of-theart facility breathe new life into what was a vacant brownfield site in the core of our city.

This is the single largest project this municipality has ever embarked upon. We understand the construction is taking longer than expected, but I can assure you that the project is on budget and you will be thrilled with your new community centre when we celebrate its opening, anticipated for late fall 2019.

The majority of the brick and glass work on the exterior of the building is now finished, landscaping is being completed, and the interior is starting to look like a finished product. Between 60 and 80 people are working on site daily and although we are pushing for speed, we do not want to sacrifice the quality of work.

Some of the amenities to look forward to include the 14,800 sq. ft. double FIBA gymnasium with bleacher seating for more than 500 people. The eight-lane, 25-metre competitive pool features touchpad lane timers, Tarzan rope, rock wall, and a giant video scoreboard thanks to a successful grant application by the Orillia Channel Cats swimming club. The 40-person therapy pool includes seating with jets and grab bars to provide stability for exercising and water therapy. The leisure pool features a lazy river and a variety of spray features that will be fun for the whole family.

All of these pools have a fully accessible ramp entry.

The three-storey fitness and studio centre offers multi-purpose training opportunities such as a spin bike area, fitness equipment, Bio Stairs, and studio space. The pinnacle of the space is a rubberized walking/jogging track that overlooks the beautiful downtown skyline.

Residents have every reason to be excited and eager for the Orillia Recreation Centre to open – it’s going to be fabulous and truly the social heart of the community. It’s going to be well worth the wait.

For project updates, visit orillia.ca/recreationfacility.

1 33 metres. The footbridge will connect a new paved, lit trail system on the naturalized area of Foundry Park to the City’s 15 km Lightfoot Trail.

2 28 elephants. The pool holds 2,047,500 litres of water. It also has a moveable floor, Tarzan rope and rock wall.

3 True. The Orillia Recreation Centre was recognized nationally with a 2016 Brownie Award for the rehabilitation of the brownfield at 255 West St. S. Awarded by the Canadian Brownfields Network (CBN), a Brownie Award recognizes excellence in the remediation and redevelopment of brownfield sites across Canada. The Orillia project won the REBUILD – Redevelopment at the Local/Site Scale category.

4 There will be 657 pieces of fitness equipment in the fitness centre.

Monthly Fun Pass (Plus HST) Adult (18+)

$37.00(R)/$40.70(N)

Child/Student/Senior

$25.00(R)/$27.50(N)

Family

$95.00(R)/$104.50(N)

Track

$25.00(R)/$27.50(N)

Annual Fun Pass (Plus HST) Adult (18+)

$407.00(R)/$447.70(N)

Child/Student/Senior

$275.00(R)/$302.50(N)

Family

$1,045.00(R)/$1,149.50(N)

(R): Resident rate for Orillia tax payers. (N): Non-resident rate.

Daily rates and 10-visit pass rates are available at orillia.ca/ORC.